Microplastics in the coastal environment of West Iceland

• Main Author: Dippo, Benjamin, 1984-
• Other Authors: Háskólinn á Akureyri
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Coastal and marine management; University Centre of the Westfjords; Haf- og strandsvæðastjórnun; Meistaraprófsritgerðir; Hafsvæði; Strandlengjur; Mengun; Plast; Háskólasetur Vestfjarða; Haf; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/12287

Verkefnið er lokað til 1. janúar 2014. Microplastic particles in the marine environment and the effects on wildlife, human and ecosystem health are just beginning to be understood in a global setting. The presence of microplastics particle in West Iceland are evaluated to determine if there is a detectable gradient of decreasing plastic concentrations with increasing distance from the urban centres around Reykjavik. The study region includes sample sites within urban, semi-rural and rural coastal settings, with 4 sites at each type of location being sampled. Microplastic particles were found at 3 of the urban sites, 2 of the semi-rural sites and not detected in any of the rural locations. It is concluded that a decreasing concentration gradient that is based solely on distance travelled from the urbanized area of Reykjavik does not exist due to patchy distributions that could be the result of strong influences from ocean currents and offshore activities. Vaxvest Locked for publishing intentions.